Business Energy And Reducing Costs

Jan 10
10:05

2012

Graeme Knights

Graeme Knights

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Modern businesses are considering their environmental impact more than ever before. This not only makes good ecological sense, but it's also wise from public relations and financial points of view too.

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Customers like to feel that they are buying from a responsible business,Business Energy And Reducing Costs  Articles so making your green credentials known can make sound business sense. Plus, with the cost of business energy seemingly rising month by month, saving energy can have a direct impact on the bottom line. Becoming more environmentally friendly needn't require a major overhaul of your business practises - following a few simple guidelines can make a real difference with minimal effort. 

Heating & Cooling
One of the major costs in any office is heating, or in summer, cooling. Many offices never seem to find the correct balance, and end up either too hot or too cold. A generally accepted temperature for office work is 22 degrees. Set the thermostat to this level and everyone should find it comfortable. Remember in winter to keep doors and windows closed where possible. In summer, close blinds to keep direct sunlight from heating the room and overworking air conditioning systems. 
Finally, make sure the last person to leave the office turns heating or cooling off before leaving the room. Better still, use a timer - with settings to cover bank holidays - to automate the heating.

Electrical Items
Consider, too, electrical equipment such as computers, mobile phone chargers and any devices that consume power when not being used. For the sake of a few minutes each morning, turn off equipment rather than leave it on standby. The proliferation of chargers for mobile phones and other devices has meant many workplaces have multiple devices plugged in permanently. In many cases, these devices continue to use power even when they are not charging, so unplugging them will cut consumption instantly.

Lighting
It is, of course, important that your workplace is well lit. Most offices will utilise strip lights which do provide bright illumination, but they may not be the most energy efficient solution. One alternative is conventional low energy lighting, although some users complain about the quality of light and long warm up times. New LED lighting is now appearing on the market, and this can provide bright, clear light with very low energy consumption. Remember you only need to illuminate areas in use - for infrequently used areas, consider an automatic infrared switch to control lighting.

With just a little thought and the right , it is possible to make simple changes that have a positive impact on your business and future costs. Remember to let your customers know you are doing your bit for the environment - they will appreciate it!

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